Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute phase protein produced in various tissues in response to microbial and sterile stimuli, which regulates the inflammation outcomes. PTX3 has not been investigated in myocarditis. Our aim was to assess circulating and cardiac tissue expression of PTX3 in 55 patients with myocarditis proven by magnetic resonance and/or endomyocardial biopsy. A major proportion of patients with myocarditis displayed significantly increased plasma PTX3 levels as compared with controls (26/30 vs. 0/10), with higher diagnostic yield than conventional biomarkers in the study group. Cardiac tissue analysis revealed PTX3 expression in all patients (40/40), with viral myocarditis exhibiting higher signal intensity than autoimmune myocarditis, and with a predominant localization in cardiomyocytes. Abnormal plasma PTX3 was associated with systolic dysfunction and heart failure at presentation. Interestingly, patients who recovered by 12 months had higher baseline PTX3 levels. Our preliminary data support the potential use of PTX3 as a biomarker in myocarditis.

Graphical Abstract

中文翻译：

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Pentraxin 3 在心肌炎中的应用：作为诊断和预后生物标志物的原理验证评估

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) 是一种在各种组织中响应微生物和无菌刺激而产生的急性期蛋白，可调节炎症结果。尚未研究 PTX3 在心肌炎中的作用。我们的目的是评估 55 名经磁共振和/或心内膜心肌活检证实患有心肌炎的患者中 PTX3 的循环和心脏组织表达。与对照组相比，大部分心肌炎患者的血浆 PTX3 水平显着升高（26/30 vs. 0/10），研究组中的诊断率高于传统生物标志物。心脏组织分析显示，所有患者 (40/40) 均表达 PTX3，病毒性心肌炎比自身免疫性心肌炎表现出更高的信号强度，并且主要定位于心肌细胞。血浆 PTX3 异常与就诊时的收缩功能障碍和心力衰竭有关。有趣的是，12 个月后康复的患者具有更高的基线 PTX3 水平。我们的初步数据支持 PTX3 作为心肌炎生物标志物的潜在用途。

图形概要